Crispy Buffalo Tofu “Wings” in the Air Fryer
I’m not gonna lie to you. I love tofu. I love cheese. I love comfort food. And yeah, I definitely love fried stuff (who doesn’t?). So when I tell you these Crispy Buffalo Tofu “Wings” with Blue Cheese Dip in the air fryer are a game-changer, trust me on this!
My friends often ask me how I come up with so many tofu recipes. Well, between my tofu tacos with mango habanero salsa and tofu with spicy peanut butter sauce, I’ve had a LOT of tofu inspiration lately!
It’s time to share one of my favorite creations with you all, because I know you’re gonna flip for these crispy, spicy, tangy buffalo tofu wings.
What Are Buffalo Tofu Wings And Why You’ll Be Obsessed
Buffalo tofu wings are exactly what they sound like – the vegetarian answer to traditional chicken wings, but with a twist that makes them uniquely delicious in their own right.
The outside gets super crispy thanks to our air fryer magic (or oven-baked if that’s your thing). The inside stays tender and soaks up just enough buffalo sauce to give you that perfect balance.
Everyone always asks how these compare to cauliflower wings, which are also great. The big difference? Tofu wings have more protein and a meatier texture.
Cauliflower wings tend to get softer inside, while tofu holds its shape and gives you something more substantial to bite into.
What I love about this recipe is how the neutral tofu takes on all the spicy, tangy buffalo flavor, while the cooling blue cheese dip balances everything perfectly. These crispy tofu wings are seriously addictive – I’ve had friends who “don’t like tofu” come back for seconds and thirds!
These are PERFECT for game day snacking, weekend appetizers, movie night, or “it’s Wednesday and I can’t even” dinner. My Libra self loves the balance of spicy and cool, crispy and creamy. Plus, they’re way less messy than traditional wings – which means less cleanup and more time for whatever show you’re currently binging!
Ingredients
For the Crispy Tofu “Wings”:
- 2 blocks (14 oz/400g each) extra-firm tofu
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup plant milk (I use oat)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (if baking)
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- ½ cup hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot is my ride-or-die)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Blue Cheese Dip:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup crumbled blue cheese (about 4 oz/115g)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Press that tofu like your life depends on it! I wrap each block in clean kitchen towels and stack my cookbooks on top. Milo (our cat) loves to supervise this part from the counter – which I pretend not to notice. 😼
- While your tofu is getting its spa treatment, mix up the blue cheese dip. Pro tip from my friend Lisa: mash about half the blue cheese crumbles completely into the yogurt, then fold in the remaining chunks for texture. This dip actually gets BETTER after a day in the fridge, so feel free to make it ahead!
- For the buffalo sauce, just whisk everything together. The maple syrup is non-negotiable in my house – balances the heat perfectly for my spice-averse 8-year-old while still giving me and my Libra self that perfect heat balance I crave.
- Once your tofu is pressed (at LEAST 30 minutes, but I’ve left it for 2 hours while binge-watching “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”), cut it into chunky triangles or sticks – about 1½ inches long.
- Panko station setup! Get three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with plant milk, and one with panko mixed with the spices. Dredge each piece of tofu in flour, dip in milk, then coat thoroughly in seasoned panko. Press the panko in gently to make it stick.
- Air fryer method: 380°F (190°C) for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Oven method: 400°F (200°C) for about 25 minutes, flipping halfway.
- The critical moment: toss those golden, crunchy beauties in buffalo sauce while they’re still hot! I use silicone tongs because I learned the hard way that buffalo-stained fingers aren’t the best look for Wednesday yoga class.
- Serve immediately with your blue cheese dip, celery sticks, and carrot sticks!
💖 Between us – I sometimes make these just for myself when everyone’s out of the house. Tofu wings, Netflix, and no sharing required… absolute bliss!
Storage Tips
These crispy tofu wings are best enjoyed fresh from the air fryer or oven. But if you somehow have extras, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, the air fryer works wonders at 350°F (175°C) for about 5 minutes. The microwave works too, but you’ll lose some of that crispiness we worked so hard for!
Store the blue cheese dip separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Air Fryer Crispy Tofu Magic: Tips For Wing Perfection
OK so I’m not exaggerating when I say it took me FIVE attempts to get these buffalo tofu wings just right. My husband started calling me the “tofu wing lady” which isn’t exactly the nickname I was going for, but whatever.
Super-pressing is non-negotiable, friends. I’m talking SQUISH THAT TOFU like your life depends on it. Sometimes I stack three cookbooks and my cast iron pan on top because the drier your tofu, the crispier your wings.
You can totally cheat the system by freezing your tofu first! Sounds bizarre but trust me. Freeze the whole block, then thaw completely before pressing. The freezing creates these little ice crystal pockets that make the texture actually kinda meaty?
My sister-in-law (who thinks black pepper is “too spicy”) accidentally grabbed the wrong bottle and added cayenne to her batch. She nearly died but my spice-loving teenager declared them “the best things ever made in this kitchen.” So adjust your heat accordingly!
Don’t rush the air fryer process! Working in batches is annoying… but cramming them all in there gets you sad, soggy tofu. And nobody wants that disappointment in their life.
Vegetarian Party Food That Even Meat-Eaters Will Steal From Your Plate
So I brought these crispy buffalo tofu bites to my cousin’s Super Bowl party last year. My uncle Tom (who refers to anything vegetarian as “rabbit food”) grabbed three before I could even set the plate down.
These wings are that perfect vegetarian appetizer that doesn’t scream “I’M VEGETARIAN FOOD!” They’re just good, period.
A big platter of fresh veggies alongside makes the perfect cooldown system. Celery is non-negotiable (it’s, like, the LAW of buffalo wings), but cucumber slices, carrot sticks, and bell pepper strips all work great for both the wings and blue cheese sauce.
If you’re doing a whole game day spread, these air fryer tofu wings go crazy good with guacamole, some chips and salsa, and those little mini quiches that everyone pretends they’re too full for but mysteriously disappear within minutes.
For drinks? An ice-cold beer is the obvious choice for many, but my friend Kate swears these are “meant for margaritas”. I prefer them with a frozen lemonade.
Sweet potato fries on the side with some smoked paprika give you that whole sports bar vibe at home. Just maybe have extra napkins ready because things get messy in the best possible way.
Plant-Based Snacking: Questions You Might Have About Tofu Wings
Can I make these buffalo tofu wings vegan but still ridiculously good?
Listen, I’m not vegan but my neighbor Jessie is, and she helped me perfect a vegan version. For the buffalo sauce, Earth Balance sticks work amazingly.
For the dip, unsweetened coconut yogurt (not the vanilla kind unless you want weird vanilla-buffalo wing vibes) works as your base. Then either skip the blue cheese or try one of those fancy vegan blue cheese alternatives. The Herbivorous Butcher makes one that’s surprisingly spot-on!
My air fryer and I are still not speaking. How do I make these crispy tofu wings in the oven?
Girl, same. My first air fryer and I had a falling out after the “smoke detector incident of 2022.” For oven baking, crank that puppy to 425°F (220°C) and use a parchment-lined baking sheet.
The key is leaving SPACE between your tofu pieces. Crowded tofu gets soggy tofu. About 25-30 minutes with a flip halfway through should do the trick.
How spicy are these things? My spice tolerance tops out at mild salsa.
As written, they’re what I’d call “sports bar medium” – enough kick to know they’re buffalo wings, but not enough to have you chugging milk.
You can totally adjust by using more butter and less hot sauce. My mother-in-law uses 1 part hot sauce to 2 parts butter and calls it perfect. Or just get a milder hot sauce to start with!
I bought this tofu stuff and it’s jiggly. Is that right?
Noooope! For these air fryer tofu wings, you need the extra-firm stuff. It should feel like a dense sponge, not Jell-O. The water-packed tofu in the refrigerated section near the produce is what you want.
If it feels like it could survive being dropped (don’t actually test this in the store, they frown upon that), you’ve got the right kind.
Can I make these buffalo tofu bites ahead for my party or will they get sad and soggy?
The blue cheese dip can be made 2-3 days ahead and actually gets BETTER as the flavors mingle. For the tofu wings themselves, you’ve got options. You can press and cut the tofu up to 2 days ahead (store in an airtight container).
The fully cooked wings are best fresh, but can be reheated. Just don’t sauce them until right before serving or they’ll get soggy overnight, and nobody needs that disappointment in their life.
Why This is a Great Tofu For Beginners Recipe
When I first mentioned “tofu wings” to my 8-year-old, he gave me that look. You know the one – where they stare at you like you’ve suggested they eat actual furniture?
Y’all, this kid who once declared bell peppers “too spicy” (I’m still scratching my head over that one) ended up eating FIVE of these crispy buffalo tofu bites! Granted, he dunked them in approximately a gallon of ranch instead of blue cheese, but still – parenting win!
What this taught me is that sometimes the secret to getting picky eaters to try something new is all in the preparation method. My little swimming lesson champion wouldn’t touch regular tofu with a ten-foot pole, but make it crispy, sauce it up, and suddenly it’s “can we have the crunchy squares again?”
So if you’re dealing with tofu skeptics or picky eaters, these crispy buffalo bites might just be your gateway recipe. They’re like the zodiac chameleon of the tofu world – adaptable to any taste preference (spoken like a true Libra).
Vegetarian Game Day Recipes: Why These Wings Disappear Faster Than My Excuses On Yoga Monday
Look, I have a confession. Sometimes I skip Monday yoga class because my Kdrama is getting really good and I just NEED to know if the leads finally get together. I’m only human! But one thing I never skip? Making these buffalo tofu wings for game day gatherings.
After bringing these to three different Super Bowl parties, I’ve learned to make a double batch. Seriously! The first time I showed up with them, my friend Anna’s husband Jim (who usually hovers around the wings platter like it’s his job) gave me this skeptical look that screamed “what is this hippie nonsense?”
Twenty minutes later, I caught him sneaking the last four pieces onto his plate while looking around to make sure nobody noticed. Classic Jim move.
The beauty of these spicy tofu bites is they satisfy that primal game day craving for something you eat with your hands that’s messy and indulgent. There’s something about that combination of spicy buffalo sauce, cool creamy blue cheese, and the satisfying CRUNCH that makes people forget they’re eating tofu.
Every single time I make these, someone pulls me aside to whisper “I don’t even LIKE tofu but these are amazing?” like they’ve just discovered some cosmic secret. And me, I just smile and say “I know, right?” while mentally adding another tally to my tofu conversion chart.
So next time you need a vegetarian game day recipe that’ll make even the devoted wing enthusiasts come back for seconds, give these crispy buffalo tofu bites a try. Just maybe make more than you think you need – they have a mysterious way of vanishing before halftime!
And if anyone gives you side-eye about bringing tofu to the party? Just wait. Their conversion is coming. cue mysterious music
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